Sept. 19, 2009

World Human Powered Speed Challenge_ A Week of Records in Battle Mountain

• France’s Barbara Bautois Ups Woman’s Record and sets European Mark
• Paralympic Medalist Greg Westlake Increases Hand-Powered
• Whittingham Sets World Record for 10th Time

(Battle Mountain, NV) – The final two days of the World Human Powered Speed Challenge saw three world records fall, culminating an historic week of human powered speed racing presented by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association and HYDRIVE Energy Drinks.
Under perfect conditions Friday evening (Sept, 18, 2009), Barbara Bautois riding the Varna Diablo III recumbent bicycle, added three miles to the women’s human speed record she set Wednesday night in Battle Mountain, pedaling to a European record of 75.458 mph/121.437 kph. The 32 year-old from Draveil, France eclipsed Lisa Vetterlein’s 2005 women’s world record by nearly 9 mph to become the fourth fastest human in the world, according to race organizer, the International Human Powered Vehicle Association.
Canadian Paralympic athlete Greg Westlake, who doctors said had to have both legs amputated at 18 months old, continued rewriting the record books by setting his fourth world mark of the week with a hand-powered world record of 42.322 mph/68.11 KPH in the three-wheeled Avos Arrow. The 22 year-old is a member of the Canadian Sledge Hockey team which took gold in the 2006 Torino Games. The Oakville, Ontario resident shattered the 1995 hand-powered record of 32.60 mph/52.47 KPH set by Longmont, Colorado’s Jacob Heilveil.
Sam Whittingham, king of the world speed challenge, did not disappoint on Friday as he pedaled his new Varna Tempest recumbent bike to another new men’s world record of 82.819 mph/ (133.284 kph), four-tenths mph better than the mark he set on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009) in the George Georgiev-designed Varna. This is the 10th time the British Columbia bike builder set the world human powered speed mark on the Battle Mountain Course where racing continues through Sept. 19.
Nearly two-dozen cyclists from around the world gathered this week on SR305 outside of Battle Mountain, Nevada for the 10th consecutive year to race on one of the straightest, flattest, and smoothest surfaces in the world. The 4,619ft (1,408m) altitude road allows riders an
acceleration zone of over 4 miles, enabling them to reach their maximum velocity before being timed over a 200 meter distance.
This year’s WHPSC has its first title sponsor HYDRIVE Energy Drinks along with the continued support from Lander County, Nevada’s tourism and economic development authorities.
“This is our Indianapolis,’ said Co- Race Director Al Krause. “The new road surface really gave us dramatic improvements and we are opening up the field seeing more people want to try this. We are also very pleased about our first year of sponsorship with HYDRIVE Energy.”
The section of the road being used was newly refinished this year with a smooth surface specially prepared for this event by the Nevada Department of Transportation and Frehner Construction Co.
“The human powered racers have been very pleased with this road surface final product,” said Kim Nelson, Executive Director of the Lander County Convention and Tourism Authority. “It was a community effort to work with the state to get the road race ready.”
Lander County officials urged the highway department to go beyond the normal “chip and seal” resurfacing, urging a design that results in a super-smooth surface. The $3.8 million project – made possible through federal and a small amount of stimulus money -- would not only satisfy transportation
needs, but also assist with economic development, tourism and marketing in the town of Battle Mountain.
The speed trials require a five mile stretch of highway. Riders, mostly in recumbent- style bikes are squeeze into an aerodynamic shell that is taped shut for less wind resistance. Riders must stay balanced while pedaling huge gear rings. The energy expended usually allows just one pass per day, although Whittingham set his latest world record on his unprecedented second run in 2008 and this year racers had morning and evening sessions.
There are several web sites and blogs to help you follow the race, here are some of those sites:
Photos: www.ihpva.org or www.whpsc.org (official web sites)
Results site: http://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/whpsc2009/speedchallenge-2009.htm
2009 Videos: www.humanpowerthefilm.com or http://www.respectech.com/whpsc2009.html

Blog site: http://www.recumbents.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2814
Sam Whittingham’s Blog: http://timetogetnaked.com/?p=2625
Sponsor HYDRIVE twitter: http://twitter.com/hydrive